Eric Ebron is a top target

North Carolina Tar Heels tight end Eric Ebron lands in the end zone for a touchdown with coverage by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Demond Smith at Bobby Dodd Stadium. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)

Only one tight end — the Bengals’ Tyler Eifert — has been selected in the first round during the past three NFL drafts. Two could possibly be selected during the opening frame of the 2014 draft, while other intriguing talent will be available later.

In a league where the Saints’ Jimmy Graham is redefining a tight end’s role, at least one available option, North Carolina’s Eric Ebron, can provide similar match-up problems.

Here are the top tight end prospects for the 2014 NFL draft:

Top 10

1. Eric Ebron, North CarolinaConcerns arose prior to the NFL combine that Ebron wasn’t in top physical shape. Ebron posted a strong 4.60-second 40-yard dash, which was second among tight ends. The workout only solidified the type of player Ebron is. He’s very fluid and an impossible match-up for opposing defenses. He is also an underrated blocker.

2. Jace Amaro, Texas A&M
Only six wide receivers in the country finished with more catches than Amaro. Amaro led all tight ends with 106 receptions for 1,352 yards. Ebron caught 42 fewer passes. Amaro is athletic enough to line up wide, and physical enough to work underneath routes. The biggest concern is his lack of blocking in Texas Tech’s system.

3. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington
Seferian-Jenkins entered the season as a potential first-round selection. A poor junior campaign and concerns about a lingering foot injury caused his stock to drop. Otherwise, Seferian-Jenkins is a highly talented target with intriguing combination of size (6-5, 262) and athleticism.

4. Troy Niklas, Notre Dame
Niklas was a surprise entrant after an average junior campaign. Niklas caught 32 passes for 498 yards. Yet, Niklas has plenty of upside at 6-6 and 270 pounds. Niklas is an improving blocker and a solid athlete. His size and upside make him an intriguing second- or third-round prospect.

5. CJ Fiedorowicz, Iowa
Fiedorowicz is a NFL-ready prospect out of a pro-style system. He is an advanced blocker and a reliable receiver. At 6-5 and 265 pounds, Fiedorowicz is a traditional in-line tight end. He’ll be able to contribute immediately, despite a lack of overall athleticism.

6. Crockett Gillmore, Colorado State
Another big target (6-6, 260), Gillmore won’t be the type of target which stretches the field vertically, but he has a good catching radius with the ability to adjust to errant passes.

7. Arthur Lynch, Georgia
Over the past two seasons, Lynch was a reliable target for the Bulldogs. He wasn’t a primary option, but he has the size (6-5, 258) to be a legitimate target for underneath routes.

8. Trey Burton, Florida
Burton never really found a home in Florida’s offense. He played quarterback, fullback, wide receiver and tight end. At 224 pounds, Burton is undersized as an NFL tight end, but he can be used as an H-back within a creative offense.

9. Jacob Pedersen, Wisconsin
Pederson isn’t the same type of athlete as a former Wisconsin tight ends Travis Beckum or Lance Kendricks, but he’s a polished prospect with a penchant for finding soft spots in zone coverage.

10. Richard Rodgers, Cal
Rodgers has bounced back and forth between receiver and tight end during his collegiate career. Rodgers was never as productive as expected due to injuries and a coaching change.

Fresno State Bulldogs tight end Marcel Jensen is unable to make the catch in the end zone against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Bulldog Stadium. (Ed Szczepanski – USA TODAY Sports)